Means for smoothing the linings of shoes



J. HOZA March 31, 1942.

MEANS FOR SIMOOTHING THE mums OF SHOES Filed A sril 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

J. HOZA March 31, 1942.

MEANS FOR SMQOTHING THE LINING OF SHOES Fil ril l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flag.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 OFFICE I MEANS Foe SMOOTHINGTHE 'LININGS oFsHoEs John Hoza, Belcamp, Md.

I Application April 1, 1940, Serial'No. 327,277

In Czechoslovakia May 2, 1938 4 Claims. (01. 12-51) In the manufacture of shoes. it is often necessary to smooth the lining of the upper, that is, so to level and even it that in the interior of the finished shoe there are no bulges orv creases of the lining which would be liable to irritate the foot.

Such bulges and creases of the lining are removed in the finishing of the shoe by a smoothing operation, and there are already known different methods and devices for effecting this operation.

For example, smoothing-has been effected by hand, by ironing out bulges or the like by means of a heated iron. Or the smoothing operation has been effected mechanically, but in this latter case the material was smoothed only around the top' without the interior being ironed out. These known methods are open to the objection thatth'e required function was not adequately.

fulfilled, and result in shoes with incompletely ironed linings, that is, theinner lining, save at the edge around the opening, remained unironed and hadin some cases to'be sebsequently ironed by hand, The smoothing operation was effected on that piece which formed a stand for the shoe and the same stand was used for all kinds of shoes. The use of a common stand is open to the objection that it was not possible to iron out completely the interior of the shoe.

' The invention provides a method vice for smoothing the linings of shoes which obviates' the drawbacks of known constructions and effects smoothing of the entire interior of the shoe'from the heel to the waist at the same time as the welt, there being used for treating each shoe three jaws and a last member, preferably a last without a toe portion, the last members being shaped to the inner form of the shoes.

A system of such last members is arranged on a rotatable ring in suitable number, the last members being individually exchangeable, so

that it is possible to exchange the smoothing devices, depending on the nature of the shoes to to be treated. I

- An embodiment of the smoothing device according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: v Fig. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of the device, with parts in section, and

Fig. 2 illustrates a vertical sectional view of the device taken through the axis of rotation,

of the disc carrying the last members.

On the horizontal shaft 2 there is rotatably arranged a disc I with last members 3 mounted or and a deon the periphery. These members 3 are removably mounted to permit exchange, depending on the style and size of the shoes to be treated. Their number may be as desired and is prefer ably even for right and left hand feet. Associated with each :member 3, are two side jaws 4 and a heel-engaging jaw 5. The jaws 4 are mounted on arms 6 and the jaws 5 are mounted on arms I. The arms 6 and I are mounted on 1 the eccentric studs 8, 9, adjustment of the pres;

sure during the smoothing operation being permittedby the eccentric mounting of the studs 8, 9. The studs 8 are mounted on the disc I; the studs 9 are likewise mounted on the disc I but to the rear. 7 I

The inner ends of the arms 6 and I are pro vided with track faces on which travelrollers I0 mounted on the lever system I I, I2 influenced by the springs I3. The springs I3 neutralise irregularities which might have influence on the operation of the machine, that is, in the case where heavy resistance may be met with in the smoothing operation the pressure is diminished by the action of the springs I3.

' 1 The-actuation of the jaws'4 and 5 of the several smoothing systems is effected by a driving motor from which power is transmitted by way of a belt I9 to a layshaft I8 which actuates a semi-rotation clutch. By the operationofthe hand lever .II the clutch is caused to drive the shaft I6 on which are provided two eccentrics I5 which are angularly displaced to the extent of By virtue of the relative position of the eccentrics, there is effected alternate clamping of the jaws 4 and 5.for a left foot and a right foot. On the engagement of the clutch, the appropriate eccentric I5 is engaged by rollers I4 mounted on the levers II, I2. Thereby the levers II, I2 andtherewith the rollers II] are shifted in the directiontowards the track faces of .the arms 6, I and effect the closure of the jaws 4 and 5.

The last members 3 are heated by electric current which is led from the slip rings 2| by way of a cable to heating elements 22 provided for the several last members. The temperature of the lastmembers 3 can be adjusted and maintained atthe required degree by provision of a regulator such as the thermostat 23. The there mostat is influenced by an independent last member 24 which answers to the average dimensions of the last members 3 arranged on the disc I'.

' The last members 3 are constructed in a form complete lasts without toe portions to permit easy fitting.

Likewise the jaws 4 and 5 are constructed according to the exact form of the surface of the shoe to be smoothed. They are faced with resilient material 25 to permit adaptation to small differences in the shoes to be smoothed. Also the jaws have a facing 26 of softer elastic material than the base material 25. This facing is provided at the point of curvature of the shoe Where the lining is most compressed. This facing 26, which projects from the plane of the elastic material 25, exercises on compression of the jaws 4 a greater pressure at the waist and there; by improves the smoothing operation.

Also the jaw 5 is likewise completed by elastic material 2! corresponding to the shape of the surface of the heel. The facings 26 and 21 are; coated with leather, for example. This jaw 5 is so arranged that it also smooths the heel portion which heretofore had to be smoothed by hand. I V

means of the jaws 4 and 5 so constructed, the lining of the shoe is smoothed at the heel and at the curved portions, the welt being also, smoothed at th same time. There is thus re-, ali sed an improvement of the external appear-. ance of the shoe aswell as perfect smoothing of h? lining.

If desired, it is possible so. to shape the. jaws 4v that they smooth only the left side or the right sideof, the shoe as may be necessary in the manufacture of orthopaedic shoes.

Normally, smoothing is effected on one pair of last members suitable for the style and size of the. shoes. For smoothing the linings of shoes of I other .sizes, the disc I is rotated until the required size of last member 3 is brought opposite the levers H, l2. The disc I is adapted to be released and secured in position by operation of the treadle lever 29.

It is also possible to smooth only the left shoe or the right shoe and to cut out the second smoothing system. This result is obtained by shifting the eccentrics l5 axially of the shaft l6 by means of the lever 28, whereby the right or; the left last member is cut out of operation.

The mode ofoperation is as follows:

According to the style of the shoe to be treated there is located opposite the operative the appropriate pair of last'members'3 with smoothing systems 4 and 5, so that it is possible to smooth the right shoe and the left shoe. The electric current is switched on whereby the last members 3 are heated to the temperature set by the thermostat 2-3. On attainment of the desired temperature of the last members 3 the smoothing operation is commenced. Depending on whether only the left shoe or only the right shoe or both shoes are to be smoothed successively, the levers l I, I-2 are brought by the lever 28 either into engagement or out of engagement with the eccentries l5. Now the operator sets the shoe on one.

of the last members 3 and by means of the lever H brings the clutch into engagement whereby-to.

effect rotation of the shaft [6 with the eccentrics l5. When the smoothing operation for the last memberfitted with the shoe is completed, the jaws associated'with said last member are opened and the second shoe of the pair placed on the appropriate last member 3. The clutch is again engaged by operation of the lever l1 and the shaft 16 with the eccentric brings the second shoe into the closing position of the smoothing device and so on.

The maintenance of the temperature at the required degree is effected by the thermostat 23 as aforesaid. In case the temperature should rise beyond the permitted extent, the thermostat cuts off the supply of current to the heater 22. When the temperature drops, the thermostat closes the circuit through the heater 22 so that the temperature of the last members 3 is maintained at the required level.

The smoothing operation is effected rapidly, regularly and thoroughly.

I claim:

1. A device for smoothing the linings of shoes comprising a disc rotatable about a horizontal axis, last members exchangeably mounted on the periphery of said disc, heating elements within said last members, connections for the supply of current to. said heating elements, clamping jaws engageable with both sides and the heel respectively, of shoes mounted on said last members, a motor driven drive shaft, and means operated by said drive shaft and operativelyengaging the clamping jaws associated with any selected pairof last members formoving said jaws into and out of engagement with the shoes on said lastmembers.

2. A device for smoothing the linings of shoes comprising a disc rotatable about a horizontal axis, last 'members exchangeably mounted on the peripheryof said disc, heating elements within said last members, connectionsfor the supply of current to said heating elements, clamping jaws engageable withboth sides and the heel respectively, of shoes mounted on said last members, a rotatable shaft provided with two eccentrics, and pivota-lly mountedlevers actuated by said eccentric for moving said clamping jaws intoand out of operative engagement with the shoes on said last members.

3. A; device for smoothing the linings of shoes comprising a disc rotatable about a horizontal axis, last members exchangeably mounted on the periphery of said" disc, heating element within said last members, connection for the, supply of current to said heating element, clamping jaws engageable with both sides and the heel, respectively, .ofshoes mounted on said last members, a rotatable shaft provided with two eccentrics, pivotally mounted levers actuated by said eccene t ies or mov n sa d c ampin J s o n o of operative en a ement with the shoes on said lastmembers, and a manually operable clutch for initiating rotation of said shaft.

4 1}. device for smoothing the linings of shoes comprising a disc rotatable about a horizontal axis, last members exchangeably mounted on the periphery of, said disc, heating elements "within saidlast members, connections. for thesupply of current to. said heating elements, clamping jaws engageable with both sides and thehel respectively, of shoes mounted on said last members, rotary eccentrics, rollers engageable with said eccentrics, levers carrying said rollers, other rollers also carried by said levers and doublearmed jaw levers rockable intov and out, of smoothing position, said double-armed levers being operated by said secondmentioned rollers.

JOHN HOZA. 

